Safety radiator cap with lift-type latch



Sept. 3, 1963 E. R. BowDEN SAFETY RADIATOR CAP WITH 'LIFT-TYPE Filed001'.. 26. 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet l 33 INVENTOR. F. 2 ELDRED R. BownEN 1 gH11/wl HW E. R. BOWDEN m R.D mw w EB V. .9 mR new D A w E Y B 5 2 MN. on3 .n.0 HH do .l F.. 6 Ih 7.-

SAFETY RADIATOR CAP WITH LIFT-TYPE LATCH Filed Oct. 26, 1960 Sept. 3,1963 Sept. 3, 1963 l E. R. BowDEN 3,102,660

SAFETY RADIATOR CAP WITH LIFT-TYPE LATCH Filed oct. 2e, 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 5 l INVEN TOR. Fig 6 ELDRED R. BowDEN WMM 23.741101/ Sept.3, 1963 E. R. BowDEN 3,102,660

Y SFE'IY RADIATOR CAP WITH LIFT-TYPE LATCH Filed Oct. 26, 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.A Fig 9 Emmen R. BowoEN Afroyney United StatesPatent O 3,102,660 SAFETY RADIATOR CAP WITH LIFT-TYPE LATCH Eldred R.Bowden, Connersviile, Ind., assigner to Stant Manufacturing Company,Inc., Connersville, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Oct. 26, 1960,Ser. No. 65,072 6 Claims. (Cl. 22d-40) The present invention relates toa closure cap, primarily intended for use on the filler neck of thecooling system of a conventional automobile engine, said cap involvingnovel structure which is airm-atively eifective to guard against along-recognized hazard.

For many years, such cooling systems were conventionally designed tooperate at atmospheric pressures; but even in those days, it sometimeshappened, for one reason or another that the collant in the system wouldattain a boiling temperature, thus producing -a superatmosphericpressure in the system. When, under those conditions, a vehicle operatoror an attendant inattentively removed the closure lcap from the llerneck of such a system, steam and scalding water would frequently spewforth, sometimes drenching and seriously injuring -anyone in theimmediate vicinity.

Today, most such systems are designed to operate under superatmosphericpressures of various values between :about two pounds and about twentypounds per square inch; and in such systems, of course, the probabilityof injury upon sudden removal of a closure cap is greatly increased.

For many years, the industry has sought a satisfactory cure for thishazard, but Without substantial success. It is conventional now to`construct the cooperating elements of the retainer means between thefiller neck and the closure cap with -an intermediate land orobstruction which, interposing -a slight resistance to removal-rotationjust before the cap is fully released from the neck, tends to remind anindividual to delay complete removal of the cap so as to give the systemtime Within which to vent its pressure to the atmosphere; but accidentsof the above described type continue to occur though, perhaps, with lessfrequency.

ccording to the present invention, I provide positive latch meanscarried by the closure cap and effective armatively to arrest movementof the cap in a direction to release it from the filler neck, at anintermediate position in which the interior of the cooling system isopen to the atmosphere through the conventional vent port with which theliller neck is provided, but in -which the mouth of the liller neck isstill closed by the cap to prevent egress of hot liquid or of anysubstantial `amount of scalding vapor which might injure the individualwho is manipulating the cap. The novel structure is so constructed andarranged as to require positive action by that individual, in additionto mere rotation of the cap, before the cap can be released from itsclosing engagement with the mouth of the `filler neck.

The primary object of the present invention, then, is to provide asafety lcap embodying shiftable latch means of the character aboveindicated which will -guard even the rnost inattentive manipulatoragainst injury by liquid or vapor spewing from a system which has beenoperating under superatmospheric pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in such a cap, latchmeans which is resiliently Ibiased to its motion-arresting position, butincluding manually mtanipulable means readily accessible to an operatorWhereby the latch may be retracted, Aby ai'rmative action, to permitremoval of the cap.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such 3,102,660Patented Sept. 3, 1963 rice a structure in which the latch means isprovided with a cam surface so constructed and arranged that the cap may-be applied to a conventional liller neck and may be fully seatedthereon without manual manipulation of the latch means by the operator.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide latch meansof the character described which is supported from the cap and arrangedfor substantially axial movement with respect thereto between itsmotionarresting position and its release position.

Still further objects of the invention will appear `as the descriptionproceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my inventionmaybe embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that change may be made in the specificrconstructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended :claims is not violated.

FIG. l is a vertical section through the distal portion of aconventional ller neck with a cap embodying one form of the presentinvention in fully seated position thereon;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 2-2 ofFIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a section similar to FIG. l but showing the ,cap inintermediate, arrested position on the filler neck;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 4-4 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section similar to FIG. l but showing a modified form of myinvention;

lFIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 6-6 ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a `fragmental side elevation of a portion of the cap of FIG.5, illustrating a detail of construction;

FIG. 8 isa section similar to FIG. 5 -but showing the lcap inintermediate, arrested position; and

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section similar to FIG. 6 but showing the partsin the positions of FIG. 8.

Referring more particularly to the form of invention illustrated inFIGS. l to 4, it will be seen that I have shown the distal fragment of aconventional filler neck 20 having an upwardly opening mouth surroundedby a seat 21 and provided with a downturned, peripherally extending lip22 which is formed, at its distal edge, with symmetrically arranged camsurfaces 23 and 24 inclining, -in the direction of applying rotation ofa iiller cap, -downwardly toward the level of the conventional pres.-sure valve seat 25. The section 26 of the filler neck indicates -anymeans whereby said l-ler neck is mounted upon, and communicates with theinterior of, the iconventional cooling system for an internal combustionengine.

In accordance with conventional practice, the iiller neck 20 is providedwith a vent port 2.7 disposed between `the seats 21 and 25, and aconduit 28 conventionally leads from said port to any suitable point atwhich said conduit is in open communication with the atmosphere.

The reference numeral 29 indicates generally a pressure closure capwhich, except in the particulars later to be described, conformsgenerally to the construction of currently conventional pressure`closure caps. Said cap comprises a cap body 30I provided with adownturned, perimetral llange 31 whose distal edge carries, atdiametrically lopposed regions, a pair of retainer lingers 32 and 33which, as will be seen, are oset from. the plane of the cap body 30 andextend substantially radially with respect thereto.

In accordance with conventional practice, the lip 22 of the iiller neck2l)` is formed with diametrically opposed notches 34 and 35 throughwhich the iingers 32 and 33 are enterable, whereupon turning movement ofthe cap in a clockwise direction as viewed from above (acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 4) will move saidfingers 32 and 33 into cooperative engagement with the cam surfaces 23and 24. Hereinafter, such turning movement of thejcap relative to thefiller neck will be referred to as forward movemen, while turningmovement of the cap in a l'direction to return the fingers into registrywith the notches 34 and 35 will be referred to as rearward movement.

As shown, the distal edge of the lip 22 is formed with a slight downwardprojection 36 at the lforward end of the notch 34, and with a shallowregion 37, having a peripheral extent substantially equal to that of thefinger 32, immediately forward with respect to said extension 36 and:between said extension and the cam surface 23. This is the land Lorobstruction arrangement of conventional practice as 'described above,and is shown primarily for the purpose of indicating the applicabilityof the cap of the present invention -to ller necks currently in wide usein Ithe automobile industry. The forward end of the cam surface 23 isguarded by a longer downward projection 38 so arranged that, when thecap 29 attains full seating on .the filler neck 20, the leading end ofthe finger 32 will be engaged and arrested by said projection 38.

A projection 39, a land 40 and a projection 41 are diametricallyopposed, respectively tol the projection 36, the land 37 and theprojection 38 for similar cooperation with the finger 33.

A hollow dome or bell 42 is centrally suspended `from the cap body 30 bymeans of a rivet 43 and is formed, at its lower end, with an outturnedfiange 44. A pan 45 is formed with a collar ange 46 which islooselyslidably mounted upon the :dome 42. A spring 47 is confined`between the collar flange 46 and a diaphragm 48 resiliently to resistmovement fof the pan 45 toward the cap body 3i) and to urge the collarflange 46 into engagement with the dome fiange 44. Said spring alsosupports the diaphragm 48 in position for engagement of .the peripheryof said diaphragm with the seat 21 surrounding the mouth of the fillerneck 20.

A valve carrier 49 is fixed to the pan 45 and supports, on its lowerface, a compressible gasket 50'. The parts fare so proportioned andarranged that, when the cap 29 is fully seated on the filler neck 26,the ange 44 is spaced below the lcollar flange 46 whereby the spring 47resiliently presses the gasket 58 into sealing engagement with thepressure valve seat 25.

In the form of cap illustrated, the gasket 50 and valve carrier 49 arepenetrated by a hollow rivet 51 in which is loosely guided the stem 52of a vacuum-release valve 53 which is normally held in sealing contactwith the gasket 50 by means of a spring 54. The interior of the dome 42is in open communication with the yvent port 27 through one or moreslots 55.

The structure as thus far described is well known in the art.

The `downturned iiange 31 of the cap 29 is, in the illustratedembodiment of the invention, formed to provide a pair of diametricallyopposed, radially projecting ears 56 and 57, the structure being suchthat, as is most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the ear 56includes a spaced pair of substantially radially arranged, verticalwalls 58 and 59 providing a guideway.

Guided within said ear 56 for limited reciprocation relative to the capbody 30 upon a line substantially parallel with the axis of said body isa latch element 60` formed to provide a toe 61 so arranged as to extendto a position radially inward with respect to the circle defined by thelip 22. Said latch element is provided with a stem 62 which penetratesan opening 63 in the cap body 30y and carries,l at its distal end, aknob 64 accessible for manipulation from `outside the cap body andacting, as well, as a stop to limi-t movement `of the latch element awayfrom the `cap body under the influence of a spring 65 which is sleevedon said stem 62 and confined between the latch element 60 and the lowersurface of' the cap body 30. AS is perhaps most clearly illustrated inFIG. 4, the rearward face 66 of the toe :61 is substantially vertical,while the forward face 67 thereof is inclined or cammed forwardly andupwardly.

Thus, when the latch element 60 is in its lower-most position, as shownin FIGS. 3 and 4, while the cap is in position on a filler neck 20, thetoe 61 traverses the plane of the horizontal fiange 68 from which thelip'22 depends; while, when said latch element is in its uppermostposition, said toe is disposed Wholly above said plane.

It will now be seen that, when the fingers 32 and 33 are entered throughthe notches 34 and 35, respectively, the innermost end of the latch toe61 will bear upon the upper surface of the flange 68 adjacent theshallow end of the cam surface 23. As the cap is now turned in a forwarddirection, the finger 32 will move past the eX- tension 36, and as thetrailing end 72 of the finger 32 passes the forward end 70 of theextension 36, the latch toe 61 will move past the rearward end 75 of thenotch 35 and the latch toe will be moved downwardly by the spring 65 todrop into the notch 35. Now, as forward movement of the cap iscontinued, the finger 32 will ride down the cam surface 23 and, beforethe forward end of the finger 32 comes into engagement with theprojection 38, the camming surface 67 of the latch toe will engage theforward end 76 tof the notch 35, whereby the latch element will beshifted upwardly to the position of'FIG. l as the finger 32 comes intoengagement with the projection 38.

As the cap` is turned in a rearward `direction from the position of FIG.2, the latch toe 61 Will drop off the ange the end 75 of the notch 35substantially concurrently with the registry lof the trailing end 72 ofthe finger 32 with the forward end 701 of the extension 36. Suchengagement of the latch face 66 ywith the notch end 75 positivelyarrests rearward movement of the cap in a position in which the gasket50` is off the seat 25, as shown in FIG. 3, and the interior of thecooling system is in open communication with the vent port 27. Furtherrearward movement of the cap to bring the fingers 32 and 33 intoregistry with the notches 34 `and 35 is positively prevented until themanipulator has affirmatively shifted the latch element 60 upwardly,against the tendency of the spring 65, to move the latch toe 61 to laposition wholly above the plane of the flange 68.

In FIGS. 6 to 9, I have illustrated a modified form of latch mechanismin Ithe same general `environment shown in FIGS. l to 4. The cap and itsvalving parts, and the filler neck shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 are identicalwith those illustrated in FIGS. l to 4 and described above; but aldifferent form of latch means is carried by the cap of the modifiedform.

The cap 88 is provided with ya downturned, perimetral flange 81 which,-at diametrically :opposed points at its peripheral edge, carriesyretainer fingers 82 and 83, radially inturned and [offset from theplane of the cap: body for cooperation with the lip 22 of the fillerneck 20. The flange 81 is formed to provide op'positely radiallyprojecting ears 84 tand 85, substantially midway between the fingers 82and 83; .and the ear 84 includes substantially radial side walls 86 and87. The wall 86 is provided with a vertically elongated slot 88 for apurpose which will appear. y

A leaf spring 89 has one end anchored, as by the rivet 9i), upon theinner surface of the cap body 8i) and extends, in chordal relation tothe cap body, beyond the ear wall 86, the `distal end 91 of said springprojecting through the slot S8 and preferably being offset `downwardlybeyond said ear wall, as shown.

Intermediate its ends, the spring 89* is formed to provide a dependingtoe 92 the rearward yface 93` of which is substantially vertical and theforward face 9'4 of which is inclined forwardly `and upwardly to definea camming surface. The toe 92 is so positioned, in the length of thespring 89, as to traverse the circle defined by the lip 22 when the capis in place on the liller neck 2t). The spring 89 is so proportioned`and designed that its distal end tends to move downwardly to engage thebottom wall of the slot 88; but, by manipulation 4of the projecting end91 of said spring, the spring may be flexed into the position of FIG. 5.When the spring end is in its lowermost position, the toe 92 alsotraverses the plane of lthe llange 68 of the liller neck 20L When thelingers 82 land 83 0f the cap are projected through the notches 34 and35 in the lip 22 and the cap is turned forwardly, the fingers 82 rand 83ride under the projections 36 and 39, and the lowerm'o-st tip of the toe92 bears against the surface of the flange 63. As the cap is furtherturned forwardly, the fingers 82 and 83 begin to ride down the camsurfaces 23 and 24, thereby flexing the spring S9 until the toe dropsoff the rearward end 75 of the notch 351 and into said notch. lustbefore the lingers 82 and 83 reach their fully seated positionsillustrated in FIG. 6, the cammed face 94 of the toe 92 engages theforward end 76 of the notch 35 and, as the cap progresses to theposition of FIG. 6, the toe rides up onto the llange 68, thus llexingthe spring into the position of FIGS. 5 and 6.

Now, when the cap is turned rearwardly for removal from the liller neck,the toe 92 drops olf the forward end 7 6 of the notch 35 and into saidnotch. When the fingers 82 and 83 reach the lands 37 and 40', therearward face 93 :of the toe 92 will engage the rearward end 75 of thenotch 35, thereby positively arresting further rearward movement of thecap relative to the liller neck, While the lingers 82 yand 83 :are stillfirmly engaged with the lip 22. In this condition of the parts, asillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the valve 50 is off the seat 25 so thatthe interior of the cooling system is in open communication with theatmosphere through the vent .port 27. -The cap cannot be removed fromthe liller neck, however, until the distal end 91 :of the spring 89 ismanually lifted to llex the spring and raise the toe 92 wholly above thelevel of the flange 68. In this form of the invention, the manipulablespring end is readily engageable by the thumb or a linger of the handwith which the operator is turning the cap.

I claim as my invention:

l. A safety radiator cap comprising a discoid, generally planar cap bodyprovided with retainer means constructed and arranged for engagement,upon turning movement, with a conventional radiator liller neck lip toretain said cap upon such a neck, and latch means carried by said capbody adjacent the perimeter thereof at a point peripherally spacedapproximately 90 from the peripheral midpoint of said retainer means andmounted for movement toward and away from said cap body generally in aline perpendicular to the plane of said cap body, said latch means beingresiliently biased against movement toward said cap body, whereby, whensaid carp is fully engaged with such a liller neck, it may be turned ina disengaging direction to a limited extent, whereupon, beforedisengagement of said retainer means, such turning movement will bepositively arrested until said latch means is manually shifted againstits resilient bias.

2. A closure cap comprising a discoid, generally planar cap body havinga downturned, perimetral flange, said flange being formed to dene aradially-outwardly projecting ear, an inturned retainer linger adjacentthe distal edge of said llange engageable, upon turning movement, with aconventional radiator filler neck lip to retain said cap upon such aneck, the peripheral midpoint of said linger being spaced approximately90 from the peripheral center of said fear, a latch element received andguided within said ear for limited movement relative to said cap bodygenerally in a line perpendicular to the plane of said cap body, andspring means within said ear engaging said latch element and yieldinglyresisting movement of said latch element toward said cap body, whereby,when said cap is fully engaged with such a filler neck, it may be turnedin a disengaging direction to a limited extent, whereupon, beforedisengagement of said retainer means, such lturning movement will bepositively arrested until said latch means is manually shifted againstits resilient bias.

3. A safety radiator closure cap comprising a discoid, generally planarcap body, retainer means carried adjacent the periphery of said cap bodyand having a portion ollset from the plane of said body and extendingsubstantially radially relative to the periphery of said body forengagement, upon turning movement, with a conventional radiator fillerneck lip to retain said cap upon such a neck, a leaf spring having oneend anchored on said cap body and extending in chordal relation to saidcap body beyond the periphery thereof, and a projection fixed relativeto said spring intermediate the ends thereof, extending away from saidcap body and disposed radially just within the periphery of said capbody and angularly spaced approximately from the peripheral midpoint ofsaid retainer means, the portion of said spring a-t which saidprojection is located being movable toward the plane of said cap body byllexure of said spring in response to manipulation of the distal end ofsaid spring, whereby, when said cap is fully engaged with such a lillerneck, it may be turn-ed in a disengaging direction to a limited extent,whereupon, before disengagement of said retainer means, such turningmovement will be positively arrested until said latch means is manuallyshifted against its resilient bias.

4. A closure cap comprising a disco-id, generally planar cap body havinga downturned, perimetral llange formed with a slot therein elongated ina direction perpendicular r yto :the plane of said body, an inturnedretainer finger adjacent the distal edge of said flange engageable, uponturning movement, with a conventional radiator liller neck lip to retainsaid cap upon such a neck, a. leaf spring having one end anchored to theinner, planar surface of said body and extending in chordal relationthereto through said lslot and beyond said llange, and a projectionlixed relative to said spring intermediate the ends thereof, extendinginwardly therefrom and located radially just within the circle delinedby the major portion of said flange, the distal end Kof said springbeing manipulable t0 move said spring toward the plane of said body byllexure of said spring, whereby, when said cap is fully engaged withsuch a liller neck, it may be turned in a disengaging direction to alimited extent, whereupon, before disengagement of said retainer means,such turning movement will be positively arrested until said latch meansis Inanually shifted against its resilient bias.

5. The combination with a filler neck of a lluid system designed tooperate under superatmospheric pressure, said liller neck having amouth, an internal valve seat facing said mouth, aperipherally-extending lip surrounding said mouth and providing a camsurface inclining toward said seat as it progresses peripherally in aforward direction, said lip being interrupted by a notch, and a ventport between said seat and said mouth, of a closure cap for said fillerneck comprising a cap body constructed and arranged to close said mouth,a pressure valve suspended from said cap body for limited reciprocationtoward and away from said body, spring means conlined between said capbody and said valve and yieldably resisting movement of said valvetoward said cap body, retainer means carried by said cap body adjacentthe periphery thereof and having a portion offset from the plane of saidbody and extending substantially radially relative to the periphery ofsaid body, said retainer means being enterable lthrough said lip notchand thereupon engageable, by forward turning movement of said cap body,with said lip cam surface, said parts being so constructed and arrangedthat, when said retainer means is engaged with that portion of said camsurface nearest the level of said seat, said valve is sealingly engagedwith said seat and said lip and a second position wholly above said lip,and

spring means yieldably urging said latch means toward said iirstposition, said latch means being so angularly spaced from said retainermeans that, as said cap body is turned rearwardly. from engagement withthat portion of said cam surface nearest the level of said seat, saidlatch means 'will engage said lip at the rear edge of said notch B tohold said body against further rearward turning movement, before saidretainer means attains registry with said notch.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which the rearward face of said -latchmeans is substantially vertical while the forward face thereof inclinesforwardly and in the direction of latch movement toward said secondposition.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,534,286 Maitzen Dec. 19, 1950 2,968,421 Eshbaugh Jan. 17, 196,12,990,971 Enell July 4, 19'61

1. A SAFETY RADIATOR CAP COMPRISING A DISCOID, GENERALLY PLANAR CAP BODYPROVIDED WITH RETAINER MEANS CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED FOR ENGAGEMENT,UPON TURNING MOVEMENT, WITH A CONVENTIONAL RADIATOR FILLER NECK LIP TORETAIN SAID CAP UPON SUCH A NECK, AND LATCH MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CAPBODY ADJACENT THE PERIMETER THEREOF AT A POINT PERIPHERALLY SPACEDAPPROXIMATELY 90* FROM THE PERIPHERAL MIDPOINT OF SAID RETAINER MEANSAND MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID CAP BODY GENERALLY INA LINE PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF SAID CAP BODY, SAID LATCH MEANSBEING RESILIENTLY BIASED AGAINST MOVEMENT TOWARD SAID CAP BODY, WHEREBY,WHEN SAID CAP IS FULLY ENGAGED WITH SUCH A FILLER NECK, IT MAY BE TURNEDIN A DISENGAGING DIRECTION TO A LIMITED EXTENT, WHEREUPON, BEFOREDISENGAGEMENT OF SAID RETAINER MEANS, SUCH TURNING MOVEMENT WILL BEPOSITIVELY ARRESTED UNTIL SAID LATCH MEANS IS MANUALLY SHIFTED AGAINSTITS RESILIENT BIAS.